The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization that develops and publishes standards to ensure the quality, safety, efficiency, and interoperability of products, services, and systems worldwide. Established in 1947 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ISO includes national standardization bodies from over 160 countries.
ISO does not conduct certifications itself. Instead, it creates the standards used by accredited bodies to audit and certify organizations.
ISO’s Role in IT and Business
In areas such as information technology, risk management, security, and manufacturing, ISO plays a critical role. Its standards lay the foundation for implementing management systems, simplifying international cooperation, minimizing errors, and improving the reliability of operations.
Companies that comply with ISO standards demonstrate a strong commitment to quality and alignment with global best practices — an essential signal to clients, especially in B2B, IT, and data-driven sectors.
Common ISO Standards
- ISO 9001 – Quality Management System (QMS) standard, focused on process optimization, customer satisfaction, and product/service quality.
- ISO/IEC 27001 – Information Security Management System (ISMS) defines how to manage and protect sensitive data.
- ISO/IEC 20000 – IT Service Management (ITSM) standard, comparable to ITIL, is used to assess the maturity of IT processes.
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of business operations.
- ISO 22301 – Business Continuity Management (BCM), focused on disaster recovery and operational resilience.
- ISO/IEC 27701 – Extension of ISO 27001 for personal data management and GDPR compliance.
Benefits of ISO Compliance
- Builds trust among clients, partners, and regulators.
- Simplifies entry into international markets.
- Reduces operational risks and improves internal processes.
- Enhances the quality of products and services.
- Enables participation in tenders where ISO certification is mandatory.
ISO and IT Infrastructure
In the IT industry, ISO standards are essential for building secure and reliable systems. Certification to ISO 27001 is often a prerequisite for data centers, cloud providers, telecom companies, and any organization handling personal or payment data. ISO-based management systems become embedded in company culture and promote best practices across all departments.